monoski: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowinformal, technical (sports)
Quick answer
What does “monoski” mean?
A type of ski that is twice as wide as a normal ski, used with both feet placed side‑by‑side in a single binding, typically for skiing on deep powder snow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of ski that is twice as wide as a normal ski, used with both feet placed side‑by‑side in a single binding, typically for skiing on deep powder snow.
A winter sport or recreational activity involving skiing on such a single, wide ski, sometimes used in competitive events; can also refer to water‑skiing on a single, wide ski.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences; the word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Slightly more associated with extreme/freeride skiing in US usage; in UK, may be more readily linked to adaptive/disabled skiing (where a monoski refers to a seated ski‑chair for skiers with lower‑body disabilities).
Frequency
Equally low‑frequency in both dialects; known mainly among skiing enthusiasts.
Grammar
How to Use “monoski” in a Sentence
VERB + monoski: ride, use, try, buy, mountADJ + monoski: wide, modern, powder, racing, adaptivemonoski + VERB: floats, turns, carves, glidesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “monoski” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to monoski down the off‑piste slope.
- Have you ever monoskiied in deep powder?
American English
- She loves to monoski the backcountry after a fresh snowfall.
- We’re going monoskiing in Utah next winter.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; may appear in sports‑equipment marketing or retail descriptions.
Academic
Occurs in sports‑science literature discussing skiing mechanics or adaptive sports equipment.
Everyday
Used among skiers and snow‑sports enthusiasts; otherwise uncommon.
Technical
Precise term in skiing equipment manuals, adaptive‑sports classifications, and competitive‑rulebooks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “monoski”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “monoski”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “monoski”
- Misspelling as "mono‑ski" (hyphenated) in modern texts.
- Using plural "monoskis" (acceptable but rare; "monoskis" or "monoski" as uncountable plural).
- Confusing with "mono‑skiing" as a verb form (correct: "monoskiing").
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A monoski is a single, wide ski with both feet facing forward in bindings side‑by‑side, whereas a snowboard has both feet attached perpendicular to the direction of travel.
It is possible, but monoskiing requires good balance and some skiing experience; it is generally recommended for intermediate to advanced skiers.
Monoskiing as a standalone discipline is not currently in the Winter Olympics, but adaptive monoskiing (sit‑ski) is part of the Paralympic Winter Games.
In British English: /ˈmɒnəʊskiː/ (MON‑oh‑skee). In American English: /ˈmɑːnoʊskiː/ (MAH‑noh‑skee).
A type of ski that is twice as wide as a normal ski, used with both feet placed side‑by‑side in a single binding, typically for skiing on deep powder snow.
Monoski is usually informal, technical (sports) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to the word.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine MONO (one) + SKI (ski) = one single, wide ski for both feet.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SURFBOARD ON SNOW (wide, single platform for gliding on a fluid surface).
Practice
Quiz
What is a monoski primarily used for?